Is That Morning “Eye Gunk” Normal?

Jan 03, 2018 12:00 AM

Author:
Moran Eye Center

Sleep in your eyes, sleep crust, sand, eye gunk—whatever you call it, we all get it—that crusty stuff in the corners of your eyes when you wake up in the morning. “The medical term is ‘rheum,’ though you rarely hear it used,” said Jeff Pettey, MD, ophthalmologist with Moran Eye Center. “It’s all part of a good night’s sleep”

So What Exactly is This Stuff and Where Does it Come From?

“Sleep crust is a mix of mucus, exfoliated skin cells, oils, and tears produced or shed by the eye during sleep,” said Pettey. “It’s a natural part of healthy eye function. During the day, all of that stuff is washed away by blinking natural tears, which keep it from sticking around. But when you’re asleep, gravity, and the fact that you are not blinking, makes it collect in the corners of the eyes.”

Does Everyone Wake Up this Way?

“Pretty much everyone wakes up with sleep crust,” Pettey said. “A healthy, functioning eye will produce the mucus, salts, and oils that cause it to form, though it can show up in different amounts in different people. Some people may have so little material they may not even notice it’s there. But during allergy season, or when your eyes are dry, you may get a little more. It should be white or light cream color—which is normal.”

What If You Have a Lot of it or it’s a Different Color?

“If the discharge is yellow or green, that can be a sign of bacterial conjunctivitis (a common form of pink eye). In that case, you should see an ophthalmologist,” according to Pettey. “There are also chronic conditions like blepharitis (a type of inflammation), dry eye, and allergic conjunctivitis that can also cause sleep crust. In some cases it could be enough to make your eyes stick together. In those cases, I would also recommend seeing an ophthalmologist.”

Keep Your Eyes Clean

Although it’s tempting to rub your eyes with your hands in the morning, try to resist. It’s never a good idea, as germs on your hands could lead to an eye infection.

The best way to clean your eyes (and, it feels good!) is to lay a washcloth soaked with very warm water on your eyelids and lashes and gently clean them. If your eyes seem to be extra-sticky, relax and leave the washcloth on there for a few minutes.